Whitfield/By S. Bradley
With players in Bruins sweaters dropping like flies, the team today made another emergency promotion from the Providence (AHL) farm club.
Center Trent Whitfield was summoned and joined the team in Tampa, where the Bruins will face the Lightning tomorrow night. This is Whitfield’s first call-up of this season and he hasn’t played an NHL game since the 2009-10 season, although he was one of Boston’s “Black Aces” during the Stanley Cup championship run last season.
In 41 games for the P-Bruins this season, the 34-year-old Whitfield has 5-6-11 totals. According to the Bruins’ official Twitter feed, rookie winger Max Sauve suffered a hip injury and returned home today. So Whitfield would replace Sauve in the lineup.
Patrice Bergeron, who blocked a shot in the second period of yesterday’s loss in Pittsburgh, said he’s hoping to play. His X-ray turned out negative and he’s day-to-day. If Bergeron can’t play, and Daniel Paille and Benoit Pouliot remain unavailable, Boston would need another forward or they could play Mike Mottau up front.
Adam McQuaid remains day-to-day as well. If he can’t play, Mottau or Greg Zanon would go in.
Trevor B/Bruno
The biggest reason that Zack H. got sent down is that he wouldn’t take a hit to advance the puck. That is not going to fly with Julien. As well, I can’t see any above average skills that Hamill brings with his game. If your limited skill wise, then you better really hustle and be willing to take a hit, and he falls short in both of these two categories as well. We have to admit he was a bad draft and move on. It is too bad that Sauve got hurt because he has a legit shot at playing in the NHL in the future. As well, he did have a good training camp so he probably deserved a shot. I’m not as concerned about our scoring as I am about our inability to keep the puck out. McDermid will do his part defensively, as well as being a physical presence on the ice. I think its time to give Turco a shot to start. T.T. looks a little tired and a day off would probably do him good.
Tim – Do you think Whitfeild has a better chance to provide that offense that we need?
Bruno– because Hamill had a ton of points on his last stint with the Bruins right? Yea we need that offense threat back….
I would rather Hamill over Whitfield too. We need offense right now more then another veteran.
bruins16- no no i would prefer hamill (as a last case scenario) over Whitfield. Bruins have those type of players with them already (like Macdermid filling in the bottom 6).. Need offense and need it bad, hence the Sauve call up
Trevor B
You want Hamill instead of McDermid? You must be watching a different team/players than me. The rest of what you said was fine.
Great quip on Twitter about Max “Moonlight” Sauve Matt. Let’s just hope it isn’t true about the Bruins last cut in September. What a disastrous season for the kid and you can’t cure brittleness.
Yah I thought Camper would’ve been called as well as he did not look out of place last time he was up.
Totally agree with both posters, I feel even Hamill back would provide more punch than “Whitty”. You gotta feel for Sauve, kid can’t stay healthy, you can tell the skill is there, even in the limited time he had Sunday.
I have to agree with you Trevor. Camper looked OK when he was up before (he even scored a goal) but for some reason PC and CJ have a crush on Whitfield. I still feel like Macdermid could find a home on this team but time will tell I guess. But holy smoke if the injuries don’t let up soon this team is going to limp into the playoffs.
I understand the necessity of a veteran presence, but I could name a handful of Baby Bs who would assist in a much needed offensive role. Boston is missing a key contributor of each line:
-Seguin filling in nicely for an injured Horton
-Caron stepping it up past few games on the “Bergeron” line
-Peverley’s loss on the third unit and pp hasn’t been replaced with Rolston just yet
-Paille is easily the more offensive player on the Merlot line, with Lane trying his best to fill that void.
My question is.. Do the Bruins really need another low scoring, blue collar journeyman for the upcoming roadie?
Wouldn’t a guy like Camper, Cunningham, or even Zach Hamill fill in that third line a little nicer?
I just feel if we’re calling up guys, might as well give these young guys a shot next game, especially on an aging Roloson. Ference is back, Rolston is there and of course Big Z for the veteran presence; but Imagine if they never gave Marchand the chance to shine…